Elton John bio movie 'Rocketman' gets addiction right. His journey could help others.

Millions of Americans struggle with substance abuse. This portrayal of Elton John's addiction could encourage some of them to get help and recover.

Jessica Hulsey Nickel

Opinion contributor

Watching a film or television show portray a character in active addiction can be a frustrating experience. More often than not, a character’s substance use is highly sensationalized — a needle in the arm, eyes rolling back in a dirty room, whereas their journey to recovery is downplayed and almost immediate. The audience rarely sees the full picture of the events that lead to substance use and addiction. For the majority of people struggling with substance use and addiction, their paths to treatment and recovery are not so simple or streamlined.

This is why "Rocketman," the 2019 biopic of music legend Elton John, which received multiple Golden Globes nominations this week, is so refreshing. The film starts by depicting John’s childhood and his relationships with an extremely critical mother and an emotionally absent father. Understanding John’s childhood is paramount to understanding his subsequent struggle with addiction.

Ask what causes an addiction

Events that cause trauma include natural disasters, childhood abuse or neglect, sexual assault and other forms of violence, which can have a lasting effect on behavior and health. The frequency and severity of exposure to traumatic events, known in the field as Adverse Childhood Experiences, can negatively impact adolescent brain development. According to Harvard University, these altered brain developments can result in unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Today we know that teens who experience early childhood trauma are three times more likely to misuse substances than teens who did not experience early childhood trauma. Furthermore, 70% of teens who are treated for addiction and/or substance use disorders report a history of trauma exposure. (Beyond self-medication, other causes of addiction include genetic predisposition and starting at an early age.)

The movie builds with John coping with the traumas from his adolescence, struggles with his sexual identity and subsequent physical abuse at the hands of a romantic partner by turning to alcohol and illicit drugs and isolating himself from those who care the most about his well-being.

In the fictionalized climax of the film, realizing his life is spiraling out of control, John walks out of Madison Square Garden before a performance and enters a treatment facility for addiction. In the scenes recounting his time in treatment, the audience witnesses John performing menial tasks such as mopping the floor while also forming friendships with the treatment facility staff and addressing his traumas.

Holistic approach to treatment

A key component of evidence-based addiction treatment is the biopsychosocial treatment model. This treatment model considers the patient’s biological, psychological and social factors and their interactions to better understand health, illness and health care delivery. "Rocketman" illustrates both the effectiveness of the biopsychosocial treatment model and the importance of rebuilding one’s community and relationships as a crucial component of recovery.

Elton John has been in long-term recovery from substance use for over 29 years; the benchmark for long-term recovery is five years or longer without using an addictive substance. While most individuals in recovery will experience a relapse (or recurrence of use) at one point in their journey to recovery, this does not mean they have "failed" or missed a singular opportunity to live free of substances. It is more of an addiction ‘"check engine" light that reminds people it is time for them to refocus on their recovery foundations and self-care.

I applaud Elton John for sharing his story in "Rocketman" and ensuring that his struggle with addiction and subsequent recovery was depicted in a very real, destigmatizing light. Today, over 20 million Americans struggle with substance use and may they see this film and be encouraged to seek help. Addiction is treatable and recovery is achievable.